NMSU tuition, fee hike possible next school year

By Lindsey Anderson / landerson@lcsun-news.com

Posted:
03/11/2013 01:01:39 PM MDT

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Shari V. Hill/Sun-NewsLuis Estevez, a freshman studying mechanical engineering at the New Mexico State University main campus, walks along the International Mall to class Monday. Enrollment has declined again on the main campus, due in part to decreases in areas such as research dollars and Pell Grants. ÒActually I have noticed a decrease just walking to class everyday. It used to be packed, now itÕs declined. It has a negative impact because the less students who come here, the less money comes into the school and itÕs hard for the school to run,Ó Estevez said.

"The university needs to be committed to the highest possible level of education at the lowest cost," interim President Manuel Pacheco said.
Proposed increases to spending include:

•
$1,317,200 on Phase I of a faculty salary enhancement plan

•
$241,200 for faculty promotion and tenure

•
$800,000 on enrollment management

•
$516,200 on the required fee recommendation

•
$250,000 for graduate student support

•
$1,547,800 on an additional 1 percent compensation for faculty and staff

All numbers are estimates as the state Legislature has not yet approved a state budget for fiscal year 2014, which determines how much state funding the university receives.

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The legislative session wraps up this week. The next Board of Regents meeting is April 3, about the time of year the budget is typically approved.

Tuition increases?

Increases to main campus tuition and fees will depend on which budget priorities are implemented.

No increase: Tuition and fees will not rise if budget increases only include required increases, faculty promotion and tenure expenses and $275,000 of Phase I of the faculty salary enhancement plan.

A 2.4 percent increase: Tuition and fees will rise 2.4 percent if, along with the above, the remainder of Phase I of the salary enhancement plan, the required fee recommendation and the enrollment management proposals are implemented.

A 4.2 percent increase: Tuition and fees will rise 4.2 percent if the above, graduate student support and the additional 1 percent in compensation are implemented.

Last year, tuition and fees rose 3.7 percent for in-state undergraduates. The highest rise in the past decade was 8.7 percent in 2004.

Tuition at NMSU community colleges is estimated to rise from $1 to $7 per credit hour.

Regent Kari Mitchell pointed out that, while tuition at NMSU may be lower, it's four-year graduation rate is lower than many competitors.

If students take longer to graduate, even if tuition is lower at NMSU, they pay more over time, Mitchell said.

"If it's taking a much longer time to get out, we actually are expending more than our peer institutions," she said.

Faculty, staff compensation likely to rise

More than 80 percent of NMSU main campus tenure and tenure-track faculty salaries are more than 10 percent below market average, Throneberry said.

The proposed budget includes three attempts to raise faculty and staff salaries, which make up 76 percent of NMSU's total budget, Throneberry said.
Pacheco said it is reasonable to shoot for salaries within 10 percent of the average.

"It is not reasonable to look at compensation as a total figure but as a phased-in process," he said.

Lindsey Anderson can be reached at 575-541-5462. Follow her on Twitter @l_m_anderson

NMSU tuition increases

How much tuition for in-state undergraduate students rose each school year: